Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For 300 years Lan Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos. After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam. A gradual, limited return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1988. Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997.

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Transportation

AirportsWorld Ranking: 101

42 (2012)

Airports - with paved runways

Total92,438 to 3,047 m31,524 to 2,437 m3914 to 1,523 m3 (2012)

Airports - with unpaved runways

Total331,524 to 2,437 m2914 to 1,523 m9Under 914 m22 (2012)

Pipelines

Refined products 540 km (2010)

RoadwaysWorld Ranking: 91

Total39,568 kmPaved530 kmUnpaved39,038 km (2007)

WaterwaysWorld Ranking: 24

4,600 km (primarily on the Mekong River and its tributaries; 2,900 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m) (2012)